The Effect of Hand Paddles on Swimming Performance

Swimming is one of the most popular activities for families, and everyone wants to get into the water to have fun while remaining safe. Bringing accessories such as hand paddles into the pool can allow swimmers to boost their confidence and have fun. Continue reading to learn how these accessories assist with training, power development, upper-body strength, and endurance in the water.

Use Them to Assist with the Pull

When it comes to swimming efficiency and speed, your pull plays a significant role. Hand paddles can act as an anchor during the pull, leading to a better swim. This benefit can help you catch the water more easily and feel confident with each stroke. When worn correctly, the paddles can aid your fingertips, allowing them to slide into the water efficiently and pull more. Building additional strength and power should be your goal, and the paddles could add the resistance you need with pulling.

Determine Your Goal

You shouldn’t buy into the misconception that paddles only help with strength and swimming speed because these accessories can be used to achieve different goals. For example, you may want to swim faster, while others may want to enhance their feel of the water. Hand paddles can assist with either goal, but it’s up to you to determine your objective and purchase the right products for your needs. For instance, fingertip paddles are designed exclusively to assist with the top of your pull and make it easier to feel the water while swimming.

Use Them Properly

People tend to swim faster and with less effort when they use hand paddles. However, when you remove these accessories, your speed could decrease and leave you feeling stressed. Therefore, it’s best to learn which methods to avoid and what to do instead. For example, keep the paddles in place when pushing off from the side of the swimming pool, and always take normal breaths while maintaining balance. Doing so could prevent unnecessary movements and boost energy.

Make sure to purchase paddles of the proper size. Select paddles that are slightly wider than your palm. The objective is to wear the paddles correctly so they fit your fingers properly and allow your hands to have a good feel of the water, which leads to a better swim.

Don’t Become Dependent

While hand paddles encourage a high vertical forearm in your catches and promote a cleaner hand entry and exit, using them to improve your strength, power, and feel of the water is best. However, don’t become dependent on them. Some people use handle paddles as a crutch, especially when they don’t reach the speed levels on their own that they do when wearing paddles. If you’re using paddles to train, remember they’re there to help you develop better techniques. It’s okay to use them, but you should occasionally perform specific aspects of swimming without the paddles. 

For people who are looking for the perfect way to boost their physical fitness, swimming, either with or without hand paddles, can be the ideal choice. As one of the premier swimming pool companies in San Diego, San Diego Pools can create a custom pool for you that offers a great way to exercise as well as a place to relax and get away from it all. Give us a call today at 888-707-7786.